Information processing apparatus, docking station, and external display control method

• US 9,529,386 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Naruse, Taku
• Primary Examiner(s): SNYDER, STEVEN G
• Application Number:
  US14/152,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/026 Arrangements or methods related to booting a display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/027 Arrangements or methods related to powering off a display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first logic circuit, a second logic circuit and a controller. The first logic circuit selectively supplies either the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to a first connector or the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to a second connector on an extension unit to the input/output port. The second logic circuit switches between supplying the detection signal to the input/output port and cutting off the detection signal to the input/output port. The controller controls the second logic circuit to cut off the supply of the detection signal to the input/output port for a first period when the extension unit is attached or detached.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first connector configured to connect to an external display;

a connecting portion configured to detachably connect to an extension unit comprising a second connector, the second connector configured to connect to the external display;

a display controller configured to assign an input/output port for receiving a supplied detection signal indicating a connection of the external display;

a first logic circuit configured to selectively supply either a detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the first connector or a detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the second connector from the extension unit through the connecting portion to the input/output port;

a second logic circuit between the input/output port and the first logic circuit and configured to switch between supplying the supplied detection signal output from the first logic circuit to the input/output port and cutting off the supplied detection signal output from the first logic circuit to the input/output port; and

a controller configured to control the second logic circuit to cut off the supply of the supplied detection signal output from the first logic circuit to the input/output port for a first period when the extension unit is attached or detached.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display controller is configured to recognize attachment or detachment of the external display when a value of a signal received by the input/output port changes and a state after the change continues for a second period less than or equal to the first period.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first logic circuit is configured to output the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the first connector when the extension unit is unattached, and to output the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the second connector when the extension unit is attached, based on a second detection signal indicating the attachment of the extension unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first logic circuit comprises a multiplexer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first logic circuit is configured to output the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the first connector when the extension unit is unattached, and to output the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the second connector when the extension unit is attached, based on a second detection signal indicating the attachment of the extension unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first logic circuit comprises a multiplexer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logic circuit comprises an AND gate configured to output a signal indicating a logical product of a value of the supplied detection signal output from the first logic circuit and a value of a control signal output from the controller.

8. A control method of an information processing apparatus comprising a first connector configured to connect to an external display, a connecting portion configured to detachably connect to an extension unit comprising a second connector configured to connect to the external display, and a display controller configured to assign an input/output port for receiving a supplied detection signal indicating a connection of the external display, the method comprising:

selectively supplying, by a logic circuit, either a detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the first connector or a detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the second connector from the extension unit through the connecting portion to the input/output port; and

cutting off supply of the supplied detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the input/output port for a first period when the extension unit is attached or detached.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectively supplying comprises:

supplying the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the first connector when the extension unit is unattached; and

supplying the detection signal indicating the connection of the external display to the second connector when the extension unit is attached.